Justice & Equality Committee to discuss the transposition of the reception conditions directive

Committee Chairman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said: “At our meeting we will consider access to the labour market for international protection applicants, and the transposition of the ‘Recast Reception Conditions Directive’. Under the Directive, asylum seekers who have not received a first instance determination of their case within nine months from making their application will have a right to work, become self-employed or access training until such time as their application for protection reaches a conclusion. Last November, Ireland agreed to opt into the directive. The opt-in is a response to a Supreme Court judgement from May 30 last year  which found that the ban on asylum-seekers seeking employment in Ireland is contrary to the constitutional right to seek employment. Tomorrow we will discuss the issue with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the Irish Refugee Council.”

The Committee will meet in Committee Room 2 at 9am. Proceedings can be followed here.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.

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